It’s an odd title, for an odd bird.

But it’s true.

When they feel comfortable, and have the option, a Wood Stork will prefer to walk away from you rather than fly. I’ve seen it over and over.

A while ago we met up with one, not far from here, walking down the center of the single lane dirt road.

We were driving, he was walking in the same direction. Casually too. I guess we crawled behind that bird a good half mile before he walked into the marsh.

Below he did the same thing, except I was walking.

A slow strut in front of me.

I stopped at a dike, he just meandered off ahead. Never did fly.